Cable and housing connector



Oct. 20, 19753 2,656,203

C. W. MUSSER CABLE AND HOUSING CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 14, 1948 I4 lf /6 [1 7 38 3.9 37 3/46245, 52 63,62

32 v' I INVENTOR. 34 C.WALTON -MUSSER.

ATTORNEYS.

FIG. l5. FIG. vles. FIG. l?.

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES OFFICE 8; Claims.

SEU.. 2

This invention relates to improvements. in connecting devices, and it has particular reference` to a device for quickly connecting or disconnecting cables, ropes, or the like, and housings therefor, employed for transmitting linear or similar motion `from one point to another via regular or irregular paths of travel.

Broadly stated, it is the object of this invention to provide means. whereby a pairof. control pull-cables, or the like., and a corresponding pair of housings therefor may be simultaneously connected or disconnected.

A. more speciiic object is to provide a con.- necting device which 'is especially advantageous for use in confined areas which are normally difcult to reach, for example, in and 'between the walls of airplane fusela'ges and automobiles, in which manufacture it is very often convenient to install discontinuous cables rather than pulling there through in one piece.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cable and housing connector which will increase the ease with which broken motion transmitting cables may be repaired or replaced.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character referred to in which the parts are so constructed and arranged 'as to eiect a strong and safe connection between the cables, ropes, or the like, and housings therefor, which it is desired to connect, and yet to permit quick and easy disconnection whenever same becomes desirable.

A 'further object is to provide. a connectingde vice oi the kind referred to embodying certain structural and functional improvements over devices which heretofore may have been provided for the same or similar purposes.

yThe prior art has developed many usefulland quite varied types of connecting devices for cables, ropes, or the like, the main purposes for which have been to connect two cables or ropes to each othe'ryor to connect a cable or rope to son-1e other object as, for example, a lever. The development oli the prior art types of connectors had been stimulated by the need for such devices which could be quickly connected and disconnected, and which would serve to minimize the diioulties of installing motion-transmitting cables, wires, ropes, etc., in and through space-limited and tore tuous areas which are difcult and generally impractical oi' access.

Although thev prior art connectors have well served their purpose, their use has been to some. degree limited in situations Where it is required to connect cables and the like which, for one reasonr or another, are carried through tubular or other housings therefor. VIn such cases, itA has been necessary to layy bare a portion of the house ing in order to utilize the prior art connecting devices to connect, for example, two ends 0I a cable. Thereafter, the housing has to be replaced or the two housing ends 'separately reoonnected to each other. Quite obviously, the separate steps and devices required to connect or discona neet the cables and housings. have been time consuming and expensive, and it should be clear that a device which can effect the connection br disconnection of both cables and housings by a single. operation must. prove to be, a timersai'rm' and, in all likelihood, a money-saver as Well. Such. has vproven to. be the case with my present invention which will hereinafter be disclosed.

In order to appreciate the extent ofthe applications in which my present invention may be employed, it may be well to discuss at this point some typical situation in which both cables and housings are required to be connected or disconnected. Well-known uses for motion-transmititing cables are the case of mechanical brakes i'n automobiles where motion is transmitted from the brake lever to the Wheels, and the choke cable where motion is transmitted from thecars dashs board to the carburetor. As very frequently bccurs, such motion-transmitting cables are re quired to follow rather tortuous paths in order to avoid various obstructions between the two cable ends. This situation is even more .pronounced in the case of cables used in airplane construction than it is in automobiles. One way in which the cables can be made t'o Vfunction properly without interference bythe obstructing auto or plane parts is to have the cables pass over a series of pulleys. A far more desirable practice, however, has been to mount an appropriate, relatively inflexible housing, between the motion imparting and motion receiving objects, said housing following the required tortilous path but being permanently so mounted, and then installing the flexible cable within the stationary housing.

\ By such means it been possible initiallyto install and subsequently to replace cables which must p'ass through hard-to-get-at 'places 'like aire plane fuselages', as it is only necessary to "sl the flexible cable through the immovably mounted housing. However, e problem has presentes itself in ceses where .it is desires to break the house ing at some point along its length, for example, where it becomes necessary to replace airplane motors or parts on the instrument panel, etc. In

euch instances, it becomes highly desirable to have a readily connectable and disconnectable housing arrangement so that the housing and the cable which it may contain can both be united or disassociated at will. It is in just such constructions that my present invention has proven to be highly invaluable and of considerable advantage over the prior art types of connecting devices.

The foregoing, as well as other` objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed disclosure thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the two parts of my novel connector together with corresponding cable and housingT ends attached thereto, portions of the connecting devices having been broken away to show the internal construction thereof ;j

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken from line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 except that the two parts of my novel connector have been axially moved together into contiguous relationship;

Fig. 4 shows how the cables and corresponding housings of the previous views have been connected and locked together by my novel device, this engagement having been effected by a turning through 90 degrees of one of the connector parts (shown separated in Figs. 1 and 2) in relation to the other;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken from line 5 5 of Fig. 2

Fig. 6 is a similar View taken from line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a similar View taken from line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken from line 8 8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a similar view taken from line 9 9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a similar view taken from line I 0 ||J of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a similar view taken from line l I 0f Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a similar view taken from line |2 |2 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 is a similar view taken from line |3 |3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken from line id-c of Fig. 4;

Fig. 14A is identical with Fig. 14 except for showing how the balls which prevent relative axial motion between the male casing and the cable terminal contained therein have been made ineffective as the cable and terminal therefor are pulled axially toward the left side of the device as illustrated;

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional View taken from line |5 |5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 16 is a similar view taken from line lll-IB of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 17 is a similar view taken from line 1 11 of Fig. 4.

The various parts which comprise the presentinvention will now be identified with particular reference to Fig. 1, although the reference characters which will be named will be exactly like those having reference to like parts that appear in the remaining illustrations.

Basically, my unique connecting device consists of a hollow cylindrical male member or housing 2| and a mating female member or housing- 22. The male member 2| is substantially uniform in overall diameter throughout; but the female member preferably has the expanded portion 53 on its left end (as seen by the reader) narrowing down to a portion 53 of considerably narrower cross section for reasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The male member 2|, shown in its position of rest in Fig. 1, has leading in from its right end an L-shaped cam slot 23 (see Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 9, 16, 17). Behind this cam slot 23, or to the readers left, are one or more circular openings 24 each containing a. radially slidable detent 26 in the form of a spherical ball. To the rear of the detents 26, or still further to the readers left, is a circumferential groove 3 the most rearward side of which serves as a ledge or footing for the smaller diameter end of a tapered coil spring 31. Farther to the rear, the hollow cylindrical male 4member 2| contains an axially extending groove 33 in which a portion of a pin 39 is free to slide only.

The internal opening of hollow male member 2| slidably accommodates a first terminal member 21 to which first cable 28 is secured, as by swaging, welding, brazing, or the like. The slidable iirst terminal member 21 is secured against rotation relative to the male member 2| by a rivet-like projection lll anchored into the wall of the male member 2|, and having a headed portion 4| projecting into an axial groove 42 in the side of rst terminal member 21. The amount of slide permissible to the first terminal member is so limited that detents 26 are prevented at all times from falling inwardly from their positions in the wall of male member 2|. Farther to the readers left there is conveniently provided a stop 25 which projects radially inward from the inner wall of the cylindrical male member 2|. In the drawings, this stop 25 is shown as a complete ring; however, such ring construction is not necessary, for a simple ingerlike projection will serve the same purpose. The stop 25 also serves, as will later be made more evident, to limit the distance which the iirst terminal member 21 and a iirst cable 28 secured thereto can move rearwardly within the male member 2|, and further to limit positioning at the rear end of male member 2| of the first cable housing 25 which serves to enclose cable 28.

Fig. 1 also shows that in the leading or forward end of the first terminal member 21 there is provided in line with the axial portion of the L- shaped cam slot 23, a slot-like opening 32 which interiorly communicates with a much larger cylindrical cavity 33, the slot and cavity forming at their juncture a shoulder 34 (also see Figs. 2, 3, 4, 10, 17). The purpose served by slot 32, cavity 33 and shoulder 34 will be made evident hereinbelow.

Located on the cylindrical outer surface of rst terminal member 21 is a shallow circumferential groove so placed that when the forward ends of male member 2| and first terminal member 21 are coplanar, the groove is in alignment with the detents 23 slidably positioned within the wall of male member 2| The cross sectional shape of groove 45 is such as to accommodate the detents 26 and to cause them to slide radially outward under certain conditions as will presently be explained.

Encircling male member 2| is an axially slidable sleeve 35 on whose leading or forward end are diametrically opposed quadrantal locking lugs 3 6 (see Fig. 8). Just to the rear of the locking lugs and inside the sleeve 35 is a shallow groove 46 (see Figs. l to4 inclusiveg'l i4, lim)- so shaped asv to accommodate the detente 26 and also to cause the detente. to.- move radially inward under conditions akin to those pertaining to groove '45 inV lirst terminal member 21. These conditions will be elaborated upon below. A i

'o the rear of groove i6 in sleevev 35. or still further to the readers left, is an internal groove 41 whose forward side is in contact with the large. diameter end of the tapered coil spring 31. lThis sprii'igy 31 constantly urges sliding sleeve 35 toward theV forward endv (readers right) of the tubular rlial'e member However, the sleeves total available extent of sliding motion is limited bythe length of groove 38 in male member 2 l i and, as. will be evident.l from further vdiscussion later, the sleeve 35 at all times prevents the detents 26 from falling completely out of their places in male member 2li. In addition, inthe uncoupled or at rest position of Figi detente 26 are conined by slv 35 in the shallow groove 4,5 in iirst termi; nal member 21,4 thereby preventing the terminal member from sliding in either direction relative to the male r'nembe` 2l..K i v A pin 35 (see Figs. l; 3; 5), anchored in the wall of sliding slr'aeveI 35 and projecting into axial shaped groove 38 inmale member 2l, is located farther to the rear o f groove 41. Pin` 3.9 is axially slidabl groove. 38 but serves to prevent re1a= tive rotation between sleeve 35 and male mem-v br 2| as well as to limit the axial travel of sleeve 35.

This completesan introduction to the various entities involved in theleft hand male member of my novel cable and housing connector. The full significance of these parts will be made more apparent asV thev description proceeds.

An introduction to the female member 22 will now follow. e Referring to Figs. 1&2 which show member V22 in a position of rest it will be seen that female member 22 is, prior to assembly of parts thereini a hollow part. Its left end (as seen by the reader) preferably has the expanded portion 50, which narrows down to a portion 53 of considerably lesser cross section for reasons which will become evident as the description continues. accommodatesV therein the male member 2|. 0n the rear '(or left) l face of `female member 50 are two 4dian'ietrically opposed quadrantal loch ing lugs 5 l which later will be seen to co-act with corresponding locking lugs 36 on sliding sleeve 35.

A little to the readers right of the locking lugsA is a rivet-like projection 52 which is anchored into the wallof member 22s expanded portion 50. The head of projection 52 projects radially inward into the open interior of the female mem'a b'rs expanded portion 50. Still farther to the right, anchored in the wall of member 22's narrowed portion 53, is another rivet-1i1re projection 54 which has a head projecting radially inward into the open interior of female members portion 53y (see Figs. 1, 2, 413) The hollow narrowed portion 53 of female member 22 slidably accommodates a second tera minal member 55 to4 which a second cable 56 is Sclrd, as by welding, swaging, bracing or the like. The secondlterminal member 55 is free axially to slide in the female members por-"- tion 53 but is secured against rotation relative thereto by the rivet-like member 54 whose head projects into an axial groove 58 on the surface of the second terminal member. It will be noted that the diameter of the second terminal is such as to permit its ending within the male member:

The expanded portion 50 matingly connected therey must; be complete freedom for the: second terminal member to: slidetromwithin thefemale to within the male: member.

Projecting radially inward' from within the narrowed portion 53 of femaley member 22,- near the readers right, there is conveniently provided a stop 59; In the drawings this stop 59 is shown as a complete ring; however, such ring constructionv is not necessary for a single lingerlike projection will serve the same purpose. The stop 59 serves, as is shown in Figs. 1-2, to prevent the second terminal member 55 from being pushed so far into narrowed portion 53 of emale member 22 (i. e. to the readers right in the drawings) as to make difficult the desired connection thereof with. the first terminal member 21. in liigsi 1-2, to have the left face of second terminal member 55 coplanar with the bottom (or vright face) of female member 227s expanded portion 50. Stop 59- also servesy to limit the positioning of second cable housing 51 shown at` the readers right.

Projecting from the left-hand face of second terminal member 55 is an arrowhead member in line with the head of rivet-like projection. 52 consisting of a cylindrical stern 60v (see Figs. l to 4 inclusive; 12),- a shoulder portion 6i, a short flattened cylindrical portion 62 and a flattened conical portion 63: Actually the hats (see' Figs. l, 3, l1) on each side of the cylindrical portion 62 and on each. side of the conical por 'tion 63 are in two parallelA planes which are spaced apart a distance slightly less than that portion 62 is slightly less than the diameter of the cylindrical cavity 33 in the first terminal member 21, and the length of the stem portion 60 is slightly greater than the axial length of slot 32.-

By means of the just described construction itis possible readily to couple together and uncouple the two terminal members` 21 and 55. This is done by aligning the arrowhead with slot 32 (the arrowheads ats 62-63 being held in alignment with the long axis of slot 32)', then causing the arrowhead rst to enter the slot and then to be rotated approximately so that shoulder portion 6I is brought to bear perpendicularly across the slot 32 (see Fig. 17). Actually, as will be brought out later, this alignment of the arrowhead with slot 32 is effected automatically when male member 2| and female member 22 are coupled together.

By way of orientation, it may be mentionedv that the left end of rst cable 28 is connected to some remote manually or mechanically operable means (not shown) to provide a pull thereon in the direction from right to left. The right end of second cable 56, on the other hand, is

assumed to be attached to some remote object (not shown) on which it is desired to exert a pulling force from right to left, thereby canl against the stop 59 in female member 22 s nar-.

rowed portion 53.

A preferable construction is.. as shown l From' the foregoing description of' the 'con-- struction of my novel device, certain of its operative features will be evident. For example, when the male member 2| and female member 22 are properly held in the at rest position of Figs. 1-2, the axial portion of the L-shaped cam-slot 23 in male member 2| is in line and on an even plane with the protruding portion of rivet-like projection 52 in the female member 22. At the same time, the slot like opening 32 in first terminal member 2 is in line and on an even plane with the flattened portion 52 on the arrowhead inside female member 22s expanded portion 50. Thus, when male member 2| and female member 22 are axially pushed'.

together, the former enters the latter, projection `52 riding in the track constituting the axial portion of L-shaped slot 23, and the arrowhead member 606|6263 penetrates through slot 32 into the cylindrical cavity 33. At this point, the right-hand face of male member 2| and the corresponding face of first terminal member 2 are coplanar, both members being prevented from movement to the right because they are in ush contact with the shoulder caused by the junction of the female members expanded portion U and narrow portion 53 and also with the left face of second terminal member 55 (see Fig. 3). Members 2| and 21 are also prevented from axial movement relative to each other, be-v ing locked together by virtue of the engagement of detents with circumferential groove 45 (see Fig. 6) as enforced by sliding sleeve 35' in its most forward or Fig. 1 position.

It will also be noted that sliding sleeve 35, male member 2| and first terminal member 2'? are so secured to each other that all three parts are rotatable only in unison. This is so by virtue of projection 4| extending from member 2| into the axial groove 42 in first terminal member 2l, and

further by virtue of pin 39 extending from sleeve A into the axial groove 38 in member 2|. Yet, by sliding sleeve 35 the required distance to the left (Fig. 4 position) shallow groove i5 therein is brought into line with spherical detents 25 so that When first cable 28 is pulled to the left the rst terminal member 21 attached thereto likewise is moved to the left until blocked by stop 25, detents 26 simultaneously being nudged radially out of the way into the space provided by circular openings 25 in member 2| and groove in sleeve 35. In similar manner, it will be noted that female member 22 and second terminal member are secured together for joint v of coupling the two parts thereof will now be I disclosed in detail.

The left-hand or male member 2| is grasped, preferably ljust to the left of the sliding sleeve 35, in the left hand. Male member 2| must be held in such a way as not to interfere with the movement of sliding sleeve 35. hand or female member 22 is grasped in the right hand. Thus held, the male and female members The right- 8 areA brought into axial alignment, the former being inserted as far as possible into the large cavity presented by the expanded portion 50 of the latter.

In accomplishing this union members 2|-22 are rotated relative to each other until the rivetlike projection 52 of member 22 is aligned and on an even plane with the axial portion of L- shaped slot 23 on member 2|. As above described, when so aligned, the male member 2| will slide into the female member 22 until the right ends of the male member and of the first terminal member 21 carried therein contact the left end of the second terminal member 55 and the bottom or right end of member 22s expanded portion 50 (see Figs. 3-4). At this point projection 52 has reached the end of the axial portion of the L-slot 23, and the arrowhead member extending to the left from second terminal member 55 has entered the cylindrical cavity 33 in first terminal member 21.

In so engaging the male and female members 2|-22 the face of locking lugs 5i (see Figs. 1, 2, 3) on the female member Contact and push axially to the readers left the face of the locking lugs 3S on sleeve 35 thereby causing the sleeve to slide its maximum distance to the left along male member 2| to the Fig. 3 position, overcoming the pressure of spring 3l'. It should be noted that this is merely a face-to-face contact (as in Fig. 3) between the two sets of lugs 5| and 3E, and that they are in no way locked together. Also to be noted is the fact that in the Fig. 3 position the sleeve still keeps detents 25 in the `circumferential groove 45 on rst terminal mem- *fare now turned relative to each othera distance of so that rivet-like projection 52 travels along the circumferential portion of the L slot 23 to the blind end thereof (as in Figs. 4, 16). At that point locking lugs 5| and 35 are no longer face to face with each other and spring 37 causes sleeve 35 to move to the right and snap the opposing sets oflugs into locking engagement so that no relative rotation is possible between the sleeve and the female member 22. In addition, the arrowheads shoulder 6| has, by virtue of the abovementioned rotation been turned across the slot-like opening 32, and the first and second terminal members 2-55, as well as the male and female members 2 |-22 are therefore coupled. Thefirst and second terminal members are thus secured together so as to permit their axial movement as a unit within and independent of the coupled sleeve 35 and female member 22, although they are non-rotatable except in conjunction with the sleeve, the male and the female members.

After the two sets of locking lugs 5| and 35 snap into locking engagement with each other (as in Figs. 4, 15) the shallow groove Q5 in sleeve 35 lies directly opposed to the detents 25 in male member 2| (as shown in Fig. 4). At the same time the rst terminal member 2i is thus unlocked from the male member 2| in which it is housed, and thereby becomes free for axial sliding movement in relation thereto. A pull on nrst cable 28 will cause detents 25 to move radially Outward from the shallow groove d5 (see Fig. 14A) in first terminal member 21 and to pass into engagement with the shallow groove i6 in sliding sleeve 35, thereby locking the sleeve 9 'against .Sliding en ment passible ac "de "t6 t Sewnd terminat terminal member 21 a 'be transmitted in full l, 1111111 t any fn teret- "First Cable 28 can be pulled until first termi: .nal member' i1 1 abats sten 255111 maledetta@ 2l Upon releasing the" pull "Ql'fir's't cable 28 HY 10 111151111184 'dr by in gli estrias 619i its possible c@ r et@ te the n right until the second ter t0 abuts. its stes i1! 11.1 ,i 'Assuming new that .first 'e 1e 25 pulled to the left from its posi o" me detente' .26 inter. asa eri groove 46', it is obv' u s axially to slide sie l thereby locked it is mpc gagement of locking/l the position ShWri in Fisslt@ Vin order to un uple the sleeve and female members, and alsoA `twote me t Fig. 4 relationship n ot e first and sec-ond terminal embers their positionsofiest;vatvv h "t groove in'rstterminal Ine' opposition to the detents 'A2, sleeve 35 :is again free tiu'n'mslig'zle member 121. A-1'1heile`ft and right ha d, 1t unique connector'lare graspedint right hands respectively'. fllhesleeve is ino with thumb and` index finger', ifor the readers 1leffft until -pin abuis ,the l groove 38. `fIhe-lugs' 5ta-nd 35 Aare thus' g y y, gaged -f'rom veach other'-ar'iditist-he` possibl' to turnthemale and feiial'e'me'rriyber n f each Aotherlso thatpro'jeetienoz yrides first pir; cumferlentially and then axiallyoutfof n mentiwith L' slet 123. Suchrelai-ive"tu A the ysame time xu-nckzsuplesv the rst ann secon terminal members 2'! and`55),a s the arrowheadi's 45 turnedlso"thattsshoulder '61 no vlonger blocks its exit through slot il?. `I Uilliiig the leftaend righthands apart `lwill''consequentlyl sepa e" the left-hand `coupling u-nits"..fromv LtheYright-hand coupling y .units, thereby effecting a simple ,Quick 50 disconnection of both the apiesmsg thehou rigs therefqr.

lllelillusmfative embodiment here disclosed ,is for ,expla vtory reasons only 't must begun? derstwd that 11122113" "variations t -:11 be nossible without departing roin'uh'euspirit and scope of my original, inventive-idea.

From Ithe foregoing it willzbe seen that by my intestine 1 haverrovioeormeans :whereby/fa ypair of'control pull cables, or the like, and a corre- 50 spending pair of housings therefor may be simultaneously connected or disconnected; a connecting device which is especially advantageous for use in conned areas which are normally diicult to reach, for example, in and between the walls of airplane fuselages and automobiles, in which manufacture it is very often convenient to install discontinuous cables rather than pulling them through in one piece; a cable and housing connector which will increase the ease with which broken motion transmitting cables may be repaired or replaced; a device of the character referred to in which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to effect a strong and safe con-Y nection between the cables, ropes, or the like, and

housings therefor which it is desired t0 were, ldnft *t0 Permit 91119K' and. easy disconnection wenev'al@ 1066911195 desirable; and' a connectingdeviceof the referred to embodying C Qrtain 'functional Vimproveirieyents over devices which heretofore may have lbeen provided for the same or similar purposes.`

The invention described in the speication and claims may. be manufactured and used by or for the Government "for governmental purposes Witheet the paiment Of, .2111i reraltv .11116111- on.

" I claim:

1. t quick-action device for simultaneously @asserting "01"11' @bemesting a 112111 0f Cables ropes; jor the lilre'and a pair of housings therefor; comprising nrst and' second cables; a nrst termi 'nal secured to saidrst cableand a second terf ininal secured to said se'condcable, saildterminals being setachabiyinteresgageabie with each Qmer; a first terminalhousing'forsaid rst terminal and a second terminal housing for said second terminal, said terminal housings being dejtachably interlgageable'-with each other and each providing for `limited axial movement by the respectiveterminals" and cables' relative to the corresponding' terminal housings; first andsvnd cable housings for the ilrst and secondA cables, respectively,` `each 'immbvbly secured to the core responding one yofsaid terminal'housings; and means which bars axial movement of"said iirst terminaland saidrstlcablerelative to said rrst terminal housing atkall tiifrles `except'when said rst and secondfterininalslar locked together.

2'. VA connecting device," comprising fdetachably interengageable hollow 4,male and female mmbels, a `@ritiri-slot 'the male member, a .pin'p'rejecting fromv the female'mfeinber and adapted ito engage said cames'lojt Iso that upon rotating the Amembers ,in opposite directions they" are effectively .locked ,against QXBJl movement independent v`of each other, `a sleeve slidably liounted 0,11 said male mmbr .and hai/111s 1'1 .end adaptd axially to align and intert with an end or' said female member, `rrrieanslyiel'dalbly 'cooperating with said sleeve to maintain! itini intertted position with said female lmember ,so as eiectively to lock the intertted' part fainst'" rotative movement y, er? detahably iiltleri.-

U vternnria-line `bers respectively mounted iorlirni Vedaxiallys dablev movement withinsaid Ina-le andfemale ers and adapted to ,become noleggi; 'enga' ed?, en said ',maie i and female iyely flocked together and to said male and female i ,eachbtlfizig A,afpair o r t e likeea'chfsecu'" d yto aandient of cables each' xtending through one of said housings and each having one end secured to a corresponding one of said terminal members whereby axial movement imparted to one of said cables is thereby imparted to the other of said cables Without moving said housings, the extent of cable movement being limited only by the distance which the terminal members are enabled axially to slide within the said male and female members.

3. The device of claim 2 including means for preventing relative rotation of but not interfering with the relative axial movements of the sleeve and of the male member, means for preventing relative rotation of but not interfering with the relative axial movements of the male member and the terminal member mounted therewithin, and means for preventing relative rotation of but not interfering with the relative axial movements of the female member and the terminal member mounted therewithin, whereby the terminal members are positively placed in alignment with each other so as to become lockingly interengageable simultaneously with the locking engagement of the male and female members.

A. The device of claim 2 including means which Yprevents the male and female members from becoming detached when the locked terminal members have been moved axially with respect thereto. Y,

5. The device of claim 1 in which the means that bars axial movement of said first terminal and said rst cable relative to said first terminal housing except when said first and second terminals are locked together additionally acts tobar said axial movement except when said first f 'and second terminal housings also are locked together.

6. A quick-action device for facilitating the connection or disconnection of a pair of cables, ropes or the like jointly with a corresponding pair of housings therefor, comprising: first and second cables; a first cable housing for said iirst cable and a second cable housing for said second cable, said cable housings being detachably interengageable with each other and each providing for limited axial movement by the respective cables relative to the corresponding cable hous ings; said second cable being associated with its corresponding housing in proper receptive position for detachably interengaging said rst cable, 2

said rst and second cables being interengaged upon interengagement of said housings; limit means for halting the axial movement of said rst cable relative to its housing; and release means for effecting release of said limit means upon interengagement of said first and second cable housings; whereby said limit means bars axial movement of said first cable relative to its corresponding housing at all times except when said rst and second cables, and said rst and second cable housings, respectively, are interengaged.

' 7. A detachable coupling for connecting a pair of cables, ropes, or the like, jointly With a corresponding pair of housings therefor comprising, in combination: a first assembly and a second assembly, each of said assemblies comprising a housing and a cable axially movable therein, each of said housings having a portion for detachably interengaging the similar portion of the other of said housings, each of said cables having a proximal and a distal extremity, each of said Yproximal extremities comprising a portion for detachably interengaging the similar portion of the other of said cables as said housing portions enter into interengagement; retaining means associated With each of said assemblies for limiting axial movement of each said cable in the direction of its distal extremity relative to its corresponding housing so as to assure the interengagement of the proximal extremities of said cables as the housings enter into interengagement with each other; and release means for releasing one of said retaining means when said first and second assemblies are interengaged, whereby relative axial movement of said interengaged cables with respect to said interengaged housings is made possible.

8. A detachable coupling for facilitating both the connection and disconnection of a pair of cables, ropes or the like jointly with a corresponding pair of housings therefor comprising, in combination: a rst assembly and a second assembly, each of said assemblies comprising a housing and a cable axially movable therein, each of said housings having a portion for detachably interengaging the similar portion of the other of said housings, each of said cables having a proximal and a distal extremity, each of said proximal extremities comprising a portion for detachably linterengaging the similar portion of the other of said cables as said housing portions enter into interengagement; retaining means associated with each of said assemblies for limiting axial movement of each said cable in the d-irection of its distal extremity relative to its corresponding housing so as to assure the interengagement of the proximal extremities of said cables as the housings enter into interengagement With each other, each of said retaining means additionally limiting axial movement of each said housing relative to and in the direction of the distal extremity of its associated cable; and release means for releasing at least one of said retaining means when said first and second assemblies are interengaged, whereby relative axial movement of said interengaged cables with respect to said interengaged housings is made possible.

CLARENCE WALTON MUSSER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 428,046 Hanagin May 13, 1890 2,093,037 Douglas Sept. 14, 1937 2,093,403 Sertillange Sept. 21, 1937 2,182,896 Hixon Dec. 12, 1939 2,448,548 Purdy Sept. 7, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,598 Great Britain of1909 

